davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12

renee, a sailer. Seeing how the battle was 60
ing, she had herself towed toward the
grounded Minnesota and presently she her.
self grounded. Together the two helpless
vessels waited the onslaught of the iron
beaked monster. There seems to have
been inexpiicable ignorance of the channels
on the part Of the Federal pilots. The Roa-
noke, the Minnesota and the st. Lawrence
all ran aground.
The st. Lawrence fired broadside at the
Merrimac, which did not the slightest harm
The Merrimac fired one single shell at the St
Lawrence. 1t went through the wooden ship
like bolt of lightning. Then the St Law
renee. hors du combat, stole off like a
whipped animal up toward Fortress Monroe
1t was getting dark. The ram and her at
tendant gunboats drew off from the fight and
steamed to Sewelfs point, where they
anchored. The hot shot the ram had thrown
last into the Congress had been for the pur-
pose of setting fire to her. This object was
accomplished. The battered ship burned to
the waters edge. About midnight the fires
reached her powder magazine, when she
blew up with tremendous roar, and that
was the end of the Congress.
"Harper's Pictorial History says of the Mer-
rimac: NO vessel that ever fioa ed had ever
done so great a work in single half dav
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12
MERRIMAC AND MONITOR.
from ''Lossing's Civil War;

The captain was the pilot Of the Merrimac
that day off Hampton roads, March Q, 1862.
The Merrimac was fine new steam frigate.
When the United States officer, Commodore
McCauley, set fire to his own governments
navy yard at Norfolk and burned the ships,
the Merrimac was among those fired and left
to consume This was April 81, 1861.
But the Merrimac was not entirely de-
stroyed. She was burned to the copper line.
Then she sank To raise her again, to fit her
out as a war vessel, was not task of very
great difficulty for the Confederate govern
snent. Her exterior pattern was changed
somewhat In armor plating her, and other
wise fitting her for naval warfare, the Con-
federates affixed to her bows a long, powerful
from beak In brief, when the refitting was
dome. and the Merrimac was turned out
Of the Norfolk or Portsmouth navy
ward she became the steam ram Vir-
ginia, the terror of every United States
ship afioat Steaming up, head on, she was
able to send her long, swordfish beak crashing
through the sides of the strongest wooden
ship. Thus, attacking vessels one at a time,
the Virginia was prepared to vanquish the
whole United States navy and commercial
marine. What is more, she had been fitted
NO in the United States governments own
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12

The little Monitor followed in her wake,
and when the Merrimac turned her iron beak
forward, there was the cheese box directly
between her and the Minnesota The stern
guns of the Minnesota opened on the ram,
but she was nvulnerable. Il her sides had
been perpendicular, some of the fifty great
shots which struck her from Capt. Van
Brunt's guns on the Minnesota, must have
penetrated her.
As the ram approached the little MOni-
tors tuTet guns began to revolve and fire.
The ram answered with tremendous broad
side. One cOnical shot from the huge Arm
strong c1ln penetrated the Monitors tulret
part wv, but the bolt broke off and re
manned sticking between the bars Of railroad
iron, bent and hattened. The relic is still
preserved. Other shot from the ram few
around and over the Monitor without effect.
The little raft steamed around and around
her ponderous foe, seeking point Of attack.
But there was none They pounded at each
other tremendously, neither hurting the
other
The Merrimac, finding she had made no i'm
preston on the Monitor, turned her guns once
more upon the Merrimac and made savage
attack, which told terribly At that moment
the little Monitor steamed up and placed her
self between the ram and the Minnesota The
Merrimac changed her position and once more
the big ram and the little turret ship grappled.
The Merrimac grounded and the Mime
sofa trained her guns directly upon her.
She got afioat and turned towards Norfolk,
the Monitor after her.
Suddenly the Merrimac turned like an ami
NAL maddened and headed with all her force
directly at the Monitor seeking to run her
down. The iron beak grated over the level
deck, and the little raft came up sarenely
ready for fight again. The Merrimac was
more damaged than her antagonist. One
heavy shot penetrated the armor of the ram.
There was more maneuvering and more can
nonading at close quarters, when suddenly
the firing ceased.
The Merrimac and her attendant feet
headed up the bay. At the same time the
Monitor turned and steamed down the bay
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12
SIMON G. CESAR.
NOTHCE!

LAND OFFICE, at New Orleans La.
February 18th, 1857. )
Notice is hereby given that the following
named settler has filed notice OF his intention
I" make final proof i'll support OF his claim,
and tina; said proof will be made before the
Judge or III his absence the Clerk Of the Dis
trict Court at Opelousas, La, on Wednesday,
April l31h, 1887. viz:
gEENR:S Il. S0ALEAE,
who made Homestead Entry No. 5961 for the
West half OF South West quarter section 8,
Township South Range l West.
II" names the following witnesses to prove
his continuous residence upon, and cultivation
OF said land viz
Emile Icbert. Joseph Bcon, Theodule Il.
NidrinC. nuprc Roy. All Of St Landry parish
La.
THOS. J. BUTIER.
feb I9-Gt Register.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12
a FAMOUS SUNDAY FIGHT.

The Confederate Ram Merrimac Accom-
plished Greater Work of Destruction
i'm a Single Half Day Than Any Other
War Vessel Ever Built-But She Gould
Not Whip Capt. John Ericsson's Mon
itor-Battle of The Iron Clads, March
9, 1862.
On the shores at the mouth of the blue
Chesapeake this time of year the air is mild
sas June. Salt breeze and pine forest mingle
and give it bracing fragrance. Fig trees and
fringy cape myrtles live outdoors the year
varound It is one of the most delightful
spots of the earth. Visitors to Old Point
Comfort and Fortress Monroe linger on day
after day. Travellers stopping at the great
hotel east of the fortress sit hour by hour in
the verandas. Anon they change and fake a
sail over the bright waters with the captain.
Everybody calls him the captain. Heis a
hale, gray bearded man with keen eye and a
strong frame. He has been about the Chesa-
peake and Norfolk bay more years than
good many of our readers have lived. Year
after year, too, while the loiterers sit and
gaze, now at the blue sky, now at the softly
rolling breakers which are even as blue. they
ask the captain to tell them the story of the
Merrimac and the Monitor fight.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12

tow rds Fortress
Monroe. That was
the end of the IA
nous duel between
the Merrinac and
the Monitor.
Lieut.. Worden,
in the pilot house
of the Monitor.
was blinded by
some cement which
was thrown into
bis eyes by a shot
w h ich stru Ga
squ a rely in the
peephole. He was
taken to Washing
ington and tended
rII n.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12

She had DESTROYED
two powerful YES
sells, carrying three
times her number
Of men, and fully
six times her wei lit
of armament" The
Federal YES els lost
quite 2!50 men that
Sth of March, 1862
t b e ConfederateS
only 10. " ould
the terrible Melri-
mac come back
next morning and
1,-. Al
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12

navy yard, Of good iron and steel belonging
to the nation
The new pattern given to her was the idea
of Lieut. John M. Brooks, himself United
States naval officer who had taken the Confed-
crate side The battering ram or false bow ex-
tended out ahead of her 33 feet. She had two
powerful engines below the water line. Her
roof and sides were covered with oak over two
feet thick, and upon this was plated iron 6
inches through. The ram in front was also
composed of oak and iron. The vessel was
armed with several great guns for those days,
carrying shot of from 80 to 100 pounds, and a
12O-pound she'll.
Such was the ram Virginia. She is better
known, however, the world over, by her for
mer name, the Merrimac, and that is the
name which will be used in this story
Last but not least, she was directed by ex-
United States officers, men vino had been
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12
NUMBER 9.
NOTICE !!
UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE,

UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE.F
New Orleans, La, Jan. Goth, 1887.
Notice is hereby given that the following
named settler has filed notice OF his intention
to make final proof in support Of his claim, and
that said proof will be made before the Judge
or CLERK of Court, at Opelousas, La, ON
Tuesday, March 18th, 1887, viz:
SIMON G. CESAR,
WHO made Homestead Entry No. G19O for the
Lots Nos. =. 4. and and South East quarter
of North West quarter and North East quarter
Of South West quarter Section 2G Township )
South Range West La. Meridian.
He names the following witnesses to prove
his continuous residence upon and cultivation
of said land. viz:
Ar-ene NictOranc. CeSaiTc G.. CeSairc. Ac
dual Eei!ion Gerand Eictoriane. All of ST.
Lgndry Parish La.
THOMAS J. BUTLER.
Feb 5-Gt Register.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12

the size of the Merrimac and OF very much
lighter draft.
The Merrimac steamed up past the Mime
sofa toward Fortress Monroe. Then she
turned and prepared to come straight at the
Minnesota
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12
done so G

sofa and Roanoke? Not much sleep for
officers and men on those frigates lying there
fast aground that night.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12

among the bravest
and most expert
enced i'll the Union
navy. Her COM
nander was Capt.
F + a Il k in Bu-
chanan. He had
b e e n thirty five
years in the United
States navy.
The NJ errimac
had been on the
tongue OF ru1nor
for weeks. Four
ships of the Federal
navy lay IN Hanp-
ton roads watching
hnr ThoN ,rn,.n IL.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12
ORR, rTNEoUALED OFFER.

We have arranged with the publishers OF
these books to furnish the whole forty-five
with one years subscription TO our paper
for S2.6O; or we will send any fye 1of
IS cts. or the whole forty-five for $l.50.
Addrf IS all orders to publishers of
e .DEMOCRAT," Opeiousas, La.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11

The revival of knownothinGism' in
California is curious political pheno,
menon. At the state election last fail
one Wicginton announced himself the
candidate for governor. OF the American
party, and. although his performance was
much ridiculed, he received 1850 votes
or four out of every hundred that were
cast The recent municipal election in
Oakland, the second city in the state, in
dlCates that the new party possesses uneX
pected vitality A full American ticket
was put in the field, and although none
of its nominees were elected except one
who was also on the republican ticket,
its candidate for mayor received 1,35i
votes 10 2,0U9 for the democratic and
2,79l for the republican. The remark
the third party appears to have drawn
more heavily from the democrats thar
from the republicans, and the San Fran
cisco Bulletin is inclined to the conclus
ion that Wiggintou's candidacy last fal
hurt the democrats throughout the STATE
more than II did the republicans. The
interesting question now is whether this
new Knownothlng movement has vitality
enough to last through 1885 The Urigi.
nal Knownothius party swept California
in 1855, when il carried the governOrshir
by 5000 majority oyer the denocratis
election. IN 1857 it poled only abon
10000 out Of $4,000 votes, and wa
never more heard of
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11

BALTIMORE, April ll.-Ahout : o'clock p.
m. Saturday Officer Moore was informed
that there was man on Josephine street,
the home of the de,ni monte, fiourishing a
pistol Moore went into the street and found
Martin Gundlack, a cab driver, cutting capers
on the pavement pistol in hand The officer
told the cab driver to move on. Gundlack,
without word, leveied the pistol at Moore
and fired, the bullet entering MS mouth and
passing out at the chin. A second shot en-
tered the left side just below the heart, hut
its force was broken by book the officer
carried in his pocket A third bullet struck
him in the right thigh, while a fourth took
effect in the calf of the left leg. tIundlack
then ran, the officer pursuing until the latter
dropped to the pavement from sheer ex
haustion. The wounded man was taken &c
the station house, where his wounds were at
tended to and was later taken to his home.
Gundlack was arrested an hour after the
shooting, in a saloon OH the corner OF Arch
and Lexington streets. Moore's wounds are
very dangerous
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11
SMALL favors thankfully received;
Rhode Island has gone democratic atter
years of republican rule.

THE attitude of southern democrats
towards the president is illustrated by a
recent canvass Of the members Of the
Alabama legislature on their preferences
regarding the party candidate next year,
which showed sixty nine out of eighty
elk were 10 favor OF Mr.. Cleveland's re-
nomination There is a similar ap-
prosch to uuanimity in the expression OF
the democratic press in the state, while
the best judges say that the few dissent
ing politicians and organs have scarcely
any popular support. There is hardly
any division of sentiment now in TIM
state as to Cleveland's excellence" write.
leading democratic editor of Alabama
land for Cleveland to be properly ap
preciated makes me feel like the country
had advanced twenty-tiV years in two,
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11
GLOUCESTER FEELS Dlo6uSTED.
The Presidents Letter Upon the Fisheries
Question Adversely Commented Upon.

BoSToS, Ms, April IA Gloucester
special to The Globe say; If Gloucester
fishermen should 90 TO tho polls toby and
deposit their votes there would be q
unanimlty of opinion thar President, Cleve-
lands reply to President Stse: Is not olite
satisfactory Democrats and Republicans
alike are Indignantly crying that the presi
dent did not lake stand upon this question
which could be considered American Men
OF ali political sh DIES copyrighted IN the ex
change and on the street early Saturday
morning TO talk about President Cleveland.
position. The general sentiment was moi
favorable, and remarks like these werf
made: The letter will be of much cnnsole
ton to tine Canadians There Is nothing in
1t for American fishermen to console them
selves with. We will have TO fight tor il
yet Cleveland will do nothing; he ha:
done nothing the past; the English have
mortgage on the administration. 9Th.
president practically asks the fishermen o
America TO sacrifice this great industry Of
| theirs for The good of the country, and ask
Us 10 patriotioally bear With all the insults
heaped upon Us Icy Canada
Hon Fitz J. Bahson, president of tn
National Fishery association, takes adifferen
| view and approves of the spirit of the presi
| dents letter.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11

Nor day now passes that fails to
bring out some new republican paper OF
good standing in its state against the re-
nomination of Mr.. Blaine By the party
mex: year. aud this continues to be par
tIouIarly true of the west, where the
Blaine craze used TO he so strong. IN
Iowa the protest of the Haskeye IN Bur,
llugr"n Is promptly reechoed by the Non
gared In Council Bluffs which submits
10 its readers the query whether MIR
Blaine was not in 1884 like MI. Clay in
1874 al the height OF bis strength" and
follows il up with these other queries
as II pn sibe to increase or even main
tain the enthusiasm of his admirers OF
two years AGO? Is it possible To bring
him any new elements af support? Is
there any quarter in which be IS mort
popular now than 10 18S4y Is the conf
dence which he inspires IN other public
men ana party leaders greater ana, u
nally and most decislvely, could he carry
now, any better than 10 1884, the STATE
of indiana. the state OF New York or the
state of Connecticut Evidently tax
ing it for granted that its readers will an
swer all of these queries in the negative
Il 1. o..
trusting to the chapter of accidents anC
''clulchius at straws of chances in thu.
or that southern state the Virginlas
or North Carolina, or Tennessee
order to compensate for risks unneCes
sarily taken in the north, aud advise!
the choice of leader ''0n whom there
would he no cnance of n division
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11
AN ACTORS LAST EXIT.
John 7. RAYMOND Dies at Evansville, Ind.
Alter short Illness

EVANSVILLE, Ind, Anril John T.
Raymond, the ctor, died nj the ST. George
hotel at Z O'Clock Sunday morning. Mr..
Raymond arrived i'll this city Friday at moor
suffering from complication of diseases
and Was unable to fill his engagement. Or
his arrival he the best medical aid was pro
cured, and everything possible was done fol
his relief. He seemed considerably improved
during Saturday, but grew wore after +.
O'Clock Saturday night Mrs. Ray
mond, who is IN New York, was notified anG
the body emhalmed and placed in cask-t.
Orders were received Sunday to forward it tc
New y Crk, ami large concourse followed
the hearse Sunday to the railway station
where 1t was put aboard the train and Start
ed on Its last journey.
John I. Raymond's proper name was john
OBrien He was born at Buff llo, y y.
April ), 1850, and male his first appearance
on the stage as Lop'z in the "ione. moon, y
June y, lSj3. He has played frequently in
the principal cities in this country, AMI has
visited and played in Europe. His wife.
maiden name was NJ A. Gordon.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11

CHICAGO, April 1.-The mQlders employed
by Cribben, Sexton & Co, stove manufac.
turers, notified the firm Saturday that
they would not do some work receivei from
the Bridge Beach Misunderstanding c0mpanv
OF st. Louis, whose employees are on strike
Orders were immediately given TO close up,
and so men were locked out. William
H. Crlbben, a member of the firm. san Co.
lins q Burgie anu the Chicago stove work,
would also smut down tor exactly the sans
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11
JOHN SHERMAN'S WEALTH.
New York FInaRcier Contrsdiets Dem
ocratic senator's Assertions

A New York Financier Contributes Dem
ooratic senator's Assertions.
NEW York, April ll--Apropos of certain
statements OF a democratic senator" print
ed ill these dispatches recently, the following
card was published in The Noty York Tribune
Saturday The card Is addressed to the ed
itor of The Tribune and signed bv c. W.
Moulton, office of Moulton, johnson & Levy.
New York:
SIN reply to absurd rumors that have been
travelling around the country for the past
five years, and more particularly in reply to
Washington dispatch in The New York
Times last Monday, allow me to state the
following facts: l. The statement that Sen
ator Sherman owns 900 shares of stock in
the first National bank of this city is false IN
every particular; he does not own share in
that bank, and never has owned STARE in 1t.
q The statement that he owns bonds of the
Union Pacific railroad is entirely false; he
does not own any Union Pacific bonds, and
never has owned any of them or any stock
in that corporation. 3. The shares held by
him in the PIttsburg & Fort Wayne ra ilroad
are held by hm in trust, jointly with Gen.
Cas-, and are in no sense his personal prop
erty; therefore the statement that be held
stock in that corporation of 100000 Is a
falsshood 4. The statement that the SEN
ator has between forty and sixty houses in
Washington, besides valuable lots, etc, is
not only also untrue, but displays d remark
able ingenuity in faisehood There is a
real estate agent in Washington whose name
Is John Sherman, whose advertisements of
houses for sale and to rent are prominent
throughout the city. The signs upon these
houses and lots are the only conceivable
foundation for such a grotesque assertion.
The employment of reckless persons to fur
nish falsehoods for publication concerning
public men not only discredits the employer,
but does more to incite class prejudice than
any other cause
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11

WASHINGTON CITY. April 1.-THE presi-
dent Saturday nigh5 appointed as commits
sion ers to investigate the affairs Of the
Pacific railroads, under the act passed by the
last congress: Robert F. Pattison, of Penn
sylvania; f. Eliery Anderson. OF New York,
and David +. Littler, Of Illinois
Pattison is a prominent Democrat of Penn
sylvania and closed a term as governor of
the state last January. Anderson is a Dem
ocrat also, member of the County Democ-
racy OF New \ ork city and lawyer of note
Littler is Republican well known in Hi
nois politics, member Of tine legislature,
and a LAWYER
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11

CHICAGO, April 1.-The third horseshoe
turning contest in the United State. the first
having taken place at Detroit Feb. 5, and the
second in this city short lime ago came off
Saturday night at Battery D hall between
William Armitage and Joseph LAWYER, both
of this city, for prize of $3.50 and cham
pionship gold medal About 800 persons
witnessed the contest Promptly as time was
call ed each contestant grasped his red-hot
iron, eager to begin the task of making 100
complete horse-shoes in as short a time as
possible. The contest proved to be quite ex-
citing. Both men worked away in very
skiliful manner, turning out the shoes very
rapidly. 1t was soon evident, however, that
Armitage was no match for LAWYER, who
worked with greater precision and system,
and completed his 100 shoes by tine time the
other had finished 10. LAWYERS time was
hour, minutes, which again beat the
record
CINCINNATI, April 1.-The great horse
shoeing contest between Martin Damn, of De-
troit, and William Kane, of this city, came
of at Havlin's theatre Saturday night. The
match was for $500 side and the champion
ship of the world. As neither man lived up
to the articles of agreement, the rsferes re.
served his decision.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11

ST. LOUIS, April ia serious freight
wreck occurred near the relay depot in East
st. Louis shortly before noon Saturday.
Engine No l of the Bridge & Tunnel com
pany jumpe'i the track at point about
fifty feet east OF the tower and was over
turned, burying Engineer LINES underneath
the debris Five cars We're piled on top of
the engine, and The wreck covered all the
tracks leading to the approach from tue
west side depot Lines was taken out al
most Inhurt
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11

WASHINGTON CITY, April ll.-Dion Bouci-
cault, the noted actor and playwright, was
asked Sunday what he thought Of the inter
state commerce law. He said: Il like it. l.
Is going to be the best thing for the drama
that has occurred IN years. 1t viii kali off
the specializing paurer manager vino depend,
on his nights receipts to pay his company
and the railroad fares, aud will prevent Soe
disruption hundreds of miles from home Of
worthless organizations The increase in
fares will tend to renew the stock system anG
prevent roaming and vagabondism.n
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11
pIABoLlsM ON A COUNTY FARM.

Conviets Attempt to Escape by "a Sys-
TEN of Wholesale Poisoning.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, April IA diabol
ical attempt to murder the keeper and
guards of the county farm was discovered
Saturday. The county convicts are leased
to the proprietor of the farm, and four of
them conspired to murder him and the
guards and thus effect their escape Arsenic
was smuggied into the prison at tine farm as
cigarettes, and placed in the drinking water.
Ten men, including the proprietor and four
guards, were Frustrated, but so far none of
the cases have resulted fatally, although
several are in precarious condition. One
of the conspirabors has made a full conIes-
sion